Adjustable tune-sheet support for musical instruments.



N0. 67|,2l7. Patented Apr. 2, I91". E. KLABER.

ADJUSTABLE TUNE SHEET SUPPORT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed M n. 6, 1900.) (No Model.)

. u, c. mm mm PETERS co. momuwa. wunmumu UNITED STATES PATENT Grains,

EMILE KIJABEB, OF NEW YORK, N.

ADJUSTABLE TUNE-SHEET SUPPORT FOR MUSlCAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 671,217, dated April 2,1901.

Application filed March 00- Serial No. 7.511. LNG modem To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE KLABER, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAdjustable Tune-Sheet Supports for Mechanically-Played MusicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

In self-playing or mechanically-played musical instruments, such aspianos and the like, having hammers actuated by a motor-drum engagingwith friction-toes for the several notes which are dropped upon the drumby means of a perforated tune sheet passing over controlling-dogs in theshape of bellcrank levers, which normally retain the friction-toes outof contact with the motor-drum by pressure against the imperforate partsof the tune-sheet, but in passing the perforations corresponding withthe desired musical notes are released, so as to drop the correspondingfriction-toes in contact with the motor-drum, it is customary to employa hinged bearing-bar resting upon the tunesheet directly over the lineof bell-cranks or retaining-dogs, so as to sustain the upward pressureagainst the tune-sheet and keep this in contact with the bell-cranks. Apractical difliculty with this device results from the wearing caused byfriction of the traveling tune-sheet against the upper ends of thebellcranks or dogs, so that after a time the dogs fail to provide thenecessary support to retain the friction-toes out of contact with themotor-drum. Several devices have been employed in connection with thepressure-bar to compensate for the wear of the bell-cranks orretaining-clogs, so as to maintain their operative relation with thetune-sheet; but the adjustment of such compensating devices involvesconsiderable trouble and some care in manipulation in order to preservethe prac tical effectiveness of the device. In order to obviate thesedifficulties, I have provided, in connection with the hingedpressure-bar, an

* adjusting device by which the end of the bar frame over which theperforated tune-sheet travels in an auton'iatic piano-playing mechanismof the kind referred to, showing also the tune-sheet, the pressLu-e-bar,and one oi. the retainingdogs or bell-cranks. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same, showing the pressure-bar and tune-sheet guide and indicatingin dotted lines the position of the traveling tune-sheet. Fig. 3 is afront elevation of the same parts. Fig. i is a detail representing myimproved adjusting device, partly in section.

The construction and operation of the motor-d rum and thefrictiontoesone for each note-engaging therewith being well known andunderstood in the art do not require specific description and are notshown in the drawings.

1 represents portions of the frame having a central cax 'ity, withinwhich are mounted on brackets 2 the bell-cranks 3, one for each note,having pivoted to their lower ends rods 4, connecting each with itscorresponding frictiontoe, so as to retain said toe in normal positionout of contact with the drum by the depression of the upper end of thebell-cran k by contact with the imperforate part of the tune-sheet 5.Over tune-sheet 5 and directly above the upper ends of the horizontalrange of bell-cranks or retaining-dogs 3 is the pressure-bar 6,fulcrumed at 7 and having at its free end a horizontal screw 8, whichprojects within an elongated nut or threaded sleeve 9 of conicalperiphery, formed at its base with a milled head 10 to admit of rotatingit with the thumb and finger. The nut 9 forms a bearing or support forthe horizontal projecting screw 8, and the latter firmly supportsagainst upward pressure the free end of the hinged pressure-bar 6. Theconical form of the said nut 9 is to adapt it to vary or adjust thevertical height at which it supports the bar 6. The horizontal conicalnut 9 is supported in an overhanging seat prepared for it in a standard11 and is secured in this bearing by a detent- 12, having an arc-formedhearing face and pivoted at 13 concentrically with its face, but abovethe center of the conical nut 9, so that when in normal position (shownin Fig. l) said detent acting in conjunction with the overhanging arm ofthe bearing 11 will retain the nut in said bearing and thereby hold thebar 6 down to its work. The detent i2 is formed with a concentric slot14, working on a stud 13, as shown in Fig. 4-, so as to permit a limitedoscillation of the detent-lever 12, as indicated in dotted lines, forreleasing the conical nut 9 and pressure-bar 6 when the latter is to belifted for the insertion of the tune-sheet.

As a preferable mode of providing vertical adjustment I construct thepressure-bar (3 in two parts, as shown in Fig. 3that is to say, with aseparate face-bar 6, on which the ribs 18 are formed, connected to themain bar 6 by th u nib-screws 19, whose threads work in iiXed nuts 20 inthe main bar (3, while their ends are flanged or grooved, as shown, toengage with glands or pins 21 in the face-bar i5, permitting theirrotation while retaining the iacebar 6 in connection with the main bar(3 and permitting the adjustment of the facebar at either or both endsto any degree of prominence by turning the respective screws 19.

The tune-sheet travels upon and between flanged guides 15, mounted on anadjustingrod 16, which is formed with right and left threads and with amilled head 17 for rotating it, so that by turning the rod in eitherdirection the flanged guides 15 maybe made to approach or recede fromone another in order to adjust them in distance apart to suit the widthof the tune-sheet.

On the under side of pressure-bar 6 are the customary ribs 18, whichserve to hold the tune-sheet down to its work. The tune-sheet passesbeneath said ribs, so as to permit the upward projection of the upperends of the bell-cranks or retaining-dogs 3 through the apertures of thetune-sheet and between the ribs 18 as the tune-sheet travels.

The following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. In combination with the range of retain ingdogs the tunesheet guideand supportingframe of a self playing or mechanical ly-played musicalinstrument, a pressure or retaining bar, mounted adjustably over therange of retaining-dogs or bell-cranks upon which the tune-sheetoperates and means for varying the height or depression of the saidpressure or bearing bar, substantially as explained.

2. In combination with a range oi bell cranks or dogs, adapted to beoperated on by a moving tune-sheet, and a ribbed pressure or hearing barto retain the tune-sheet in proper relation to the said retaining-dogs;a conical bearing-nut 0 having a threaded connection with the end of thepressure or bearing bar, and a bearing 11 for conical nut, by which thebar is held in the required position of adjust men t, relatively to thebell-cranks or dogs on which the tune-sheet operates as explained.

3. The combination of the range of helleranks or dogs, 3, on which asuitable tunesheet may operate a hinged pressure or hearing bar adaptedto retain the tune-sheet in proper relation to the dogs or bell-cranks,a conical pressure-nut 9, having screw connec tion with the end of thepressure or bearing bar, a bearing 11, for the said conical nut, and adog 12, to retain or release the said conical nut and thereby thehearing or pressure bar to which it is attached, substantially asdescribed.

i. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the p ressure-bar, the hinged frame carrying said bar, means carried by said framefor applying a graduated pressure on the bar, and a securing devicewhich socures said frame and bar in place.

EMILE KLABER.

Witnesses:

JEROME CARTY, ROY PENDLE'ION.

